AI-Driven ‘Sky Eye’ Transforms Islamabad

APP

Islamabad: Artificial intelligence is reshaping policing in Islamabad as the capital expands its use of automated surveillance to detect suspects, track vehicles and strengthen investigations into serious crimes.

The city’s AI-powered “Sky Eye” system, supported by more than 1,800 high-resolution cameras, facial recognition, vehicle tracking and predictive analysis, has so far contributed to more than 2,700 arrests, according to police officials.

Authorities say the technology has been particularly useful in cases where conventional evidence is limited. In one murder investigation in G-10, AI-assisted facial matching helped police identify and arrest a suspect within 48 hours despite the absence of eyewitnesses and poor-quality CCTV footage.

In another case, the system helped police trace a man suspected of abducting a six-year-old girl in I-9. License-plate and movement alerts enabled officers to track the suspect and rescue the child the same day, an ICT police official said.

Officials also credited Sky Eye with helping investigate a murder in Mansehra by using facial mapping and movement records to identify suspects, including a former police officer.

Police said more than 140 cases have been solved using technical evidence, while digital background checks have been used to register around 350 domestic workers. Stolen property worth nearly Rs120 million has also reportedly been recovered.

The system has also been deployed for large-scale security operations. During Muharram, police monitored more than 900 processions and majalis through the surveillance network, with officials reporting no major incident.

IGP Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said the use of technology represented a significant shift in the capital’s policing strategy and announced plans to further expand the system.

Police officials said Sky Eye footage is increasingly being used as evidence in court cases, potentially helping investigators build stronger cases and speed up judicial proceedings.

The technology has also changed the way police conduct patrols, allowing officers to verify suspects in real time and monitor movements across the capital.Islamabad’s improved security infrastructure has coincided with its ranking at 93rd on the Global Safe City Index, the highest position recorded by a Pakistani city, according to officials.

Authorities now plan to expand the AI-based surveillance model and potentially replicate it in other cities, presenting Islamabad’s experience as an example of how technology can supplement traditional policing and improve crime detection.